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Quads wait to come home to Port Orange

Published: Friday, February 1, 2013 at 5:34 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, February 1, 2013 at 7:39 p.m.

After giving birth to quadruplets Jan. 22, Jessica Falletta had to wait 24 hours before she could see her daughters for the first time.

High blood pressure kept the Port Orange mom in her hospital bed at Baptist Medical Center in Jacksonville while the premature babies were treated in the hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for the first few hours of their lives. But Falletta said she fell in love from the moment she met Isabella, Natalia, Gianna and Alexis for the first time.

Falletta, 28, and her husband, Marco, 38, welcomed the quadruplets 12 weeks before Jessica's April 11 due date. The four sisters each weighed 2.5 pounds or less at the time of birth.

"It's been an emotional roller coaster, Jessica said by phone from Baptist Medical Center on Friday. "I was so happy that (the babies) were doing the best they could. We were prepared for the worst."

After several failed attempts to become pregnant, the couple turned to fertility drugs. They said they never thought they'd be able to conceive one child — let alone four.

The babies will have to wait at least two more months before they can come home. In the meantime, Jessica is staying nearby at the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Jacksonville and Marco commutes from his job as co-owner of DeVinci's Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria in Ormond Beach. The babies are able to breathe on their own and are progressing well, Jessica said. Natalia, the smallest baby at 1.5 pounds, is currently suffering from a stomach infection and is under observation by doctors.

"She's the smallest one but she is such a fighter," Jessica said. "She was doing well until she got the infection in her belly but she is stable for now."

Marco and Jessica admit it has been overwhelming at times to plan for the financial and logistical challenges that await them. Once the babies come home, the couple expects to change 30 to 40 diapers a day and go through about 35 bottles.

"At the beginning we looked at each other and thought: How are we going to do this?" Marco recalled. "But then when those babies started to grow we said: It doesn't matter how, we are going to do it. The money part is tough but God isn't going to give you more than you can handle."

The couple are currently accepting donations for their stay at the Ronald McDonald House, which costs $10 a day. For information on donating, visit socialmediabar.com/ronald-mcdonald-house or call 904-807-4663 .

<p>After giving birth to quadruplets Jan. 22, Jessica Falletta had to wait 24 hours before she could see her daughters for the first time. </p><p>High blood pressure kept the Port Orange mom in her hospital bed at Baptist Medical Center in Jacksonville while the premature babies were treated in the hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for the first few hours of their lives. But Falletta said she fell in love from the moment she met Isabella, Natalia, Gianna and Alexis for the first time. </p><p>Falletta, 28, and her husband, Marco, 38, welcomed the quadruplets 12 weeks before Jessica's April 11 due date. The four sisters each weighed 2.5 pounds or less at the time of birth. </p><p>"It's been an emotional roller coaster, Jessica said by phone from Baptist Medical Center on Friday. "I was so happy that (the babies) were doing the best they could. We were prepared for the worst." </p><p>After several failed attempts to become pregnant, the couple turned to fertility drugs. They said they never thought they'd be able to conceive one child — let alone four. </p><p>The babies will have to wait at least two more months before they can come home. In the meantime, Jessica is staying nearby at the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Jacksonville and Marco commutes from his job as co-owner of DeVinci's Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria in Ormond Beach. The babies are able to breathe on their own and are progressing well, Jessica said. Natalia, the smallest baby at 1.5 pounds, is currently suffering from a stomach infection and is under observation by doctors. </p><p>"She's the smallest one but she is such a fighter," Jessica said. "She was doing well until she got the infection in her belly but she is stable for now." </p><p>Marco and Jessica admit it has been overwhelming at times to plan for the financial and logistical challenges that await them. Once the babies come home, the couple expects to change 30 to 40 diapers a day and go through about 35 bottles. </p><p>"At the beginning we looked at each other and thought: How are we going to do this?" Marco recalled. "But then when those babies started to grow we said: It doesn't matter how, we are going to do it. The money part is tough but God isn't going to give you more than you can handle."</p><p>The couple are currently accepting donations for their stay at the Ronald McDonald House, which costs $10 a day. For information on donating, visit socialmediabar.com/ronald-mcdonald-house or call 904-807-4663 .</p>